Feature of Month
The Fall Equinox
Signals Harvest Time for Ostara
Editorial by Clayton Stallings
All photos courtesy Ostara .
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica , the autumnal equinox is one of the two moments in the year when the sun is exactly above the equator and day and night are of equal length ; also , either of the two points in the sky where the ecliptic ( the sun ’ s annual pathway ) and the celestial equator intersect . In the Northern Hemisphere , the autumnal equinox falls about September 22 or 23 ( depending on the year ) as the sun crosses the celestial equator going south . According to the astronomical definition of the seasons , the autumnal equinox also marks the beginning of autumn , which lasts until the winter solstice ( December 21 or 22 ) in the Northern Hemisphere .
Historically , the spring and fall equinoxes mark the beginning and end of the harvest seasons , and the summer solstice marks the midpoint of summer . These cycles of the sun were important signals to the farmer and the plants alike and were also the subject of celebration .
In Missouri , only a handful of licensed cultivators harness the sun ’ s energy to grow their cannabis . One of those groups is Ostara Cannabis LLC . The company ’ s name , “ Ostara ,” corresponds with the celebration of the spring equinox , which represents spring and new beginnings .
According to Dan Welsh , one of Ostara ’ s Co-Founders , “ The Ostara brand is inspired by our region ’ s deep agricultural roots . Before the days of artificial lights and big ag , farmers and their crops alike relied upon the sun to guide them through the annual harvest
32 September 2023 cycle . The spring equinox , aka Ostara , is the time of year when we experience equal amounts of daylight and darkness — and also marks the unofficial beginning of spring . Our brand taps into that spirit of renewal and
Ostara ’ s sun-grown cannabis flower post harvest during the drying process . Next step , it ’ s trimmed , and then shipped off to a dispensary near you .
balance . The brand mission also allows us to ‘ celebrate the sun ’ by hosting events and promotions that correspond with the harvest cycles — rooted in the annual solstices and equinoxes . We are excited to celebrate the September 23 fall equinox , which of course , corresponds with our harvest celebration
— just as it has for centuries . We plan to celebrate the fall harvest with promotions designed to give back to our loyal customers and celebrate with them at dispensary locations across the state — including the Root 66 locations ,” Welsh explained .
While Ostara utilizes state-of-the-art cultivation and extraction technology at its campus , it still follows the cycle of the sun when planning harvests , as it carries the old-world traditions forward .
“ Ostara ’ s mission from day one has been to provide affordable plant-based products for Missouri patients and consumers ,” Welsh continued . “ Our entire business plan was based on fulfilling that mission . Ostara Cannabis products are borne from sun-grown , farm-fresh cannabis that is grown with care at our farm in the Huzzah Valley . Growing under the sun enables our team to produce products at a fraction of the cost of an indoor grow , and we pass those cost savings down to our loyal customers . The end result is high-quality products with sun-kissed terpenes that we are proud to be able to offer at affordable , farmto-table prices .”
Ostara was the third cultivator to achieve approval to operate in Missouri ’ s Medical Cannabis Industry . Ostara was the first Missouri license group to go to market with vapes and has pioneered several innovative infused products as well . As the program evolved to adult use , it launched its dynamic line of sun-grown flower products cultivated at its state-of-the-art hybrid greenhouse powered by Ostara ’ s library of genetics that the company has been developing since the inception of the program .